*Refrains personnel from stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, others

*SARS is a disgrace to the police force 鈹�Apostle Johnson Suleiman

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Following recent the widespread allegations of citizens鈥� rights abuse in Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), NPM, mni, has banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force from embarking on routine patrols in the country.

Mr. Mohammed’s directive was contained in a statement Mr. Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) issued Sunday, October 4, 2020.

The statement said the IGP, 鈥渂anned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels.听

It adds the directive prevents the personnel “from carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties 鈥� stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc 鈥� with immediate effect.鈥�

Mr. Mohammed warned the men and officers of the Police Force against performing stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc., with immediate effect.

The statement further stressed the IGP warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens specifically.

Such invasion of privacy, according to Mohammed, includes 鈥渋ndiscriminate and unauthorised search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices.鈥�

He said: 鈥淭hey are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises.

“Directives come against the backdrop of findings by the leadership of the Force that a few personnel of the Tactical Squads hide under these guises to perpetrate all forms of illegality, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement establishing the squads.鈥�

绿帽献妻 reports that sequel to the purported brutality by security operatives in several parts of the country, many Nigerians took to the social media to express their anger over the activities of men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian police, calling for the unit to be proscribed.

For instance, the #EndSars hashtag was the number one trend on social media app, Twitter for several hours as of Saturday, October 3.

Observers believe the outrage via cyberspace, again, must have renewed earlier calls for the proper handling of any errant, high-handed Nigeria Police officials.

It was gathered that the latest outrage appeared to have been triggered by a particular post from a Twitter user.

The consumer said he recorded SARS officials shooting 鈥渁 young boy dead at Ughelli, Delta state 鈥� in front of Wetland Hotels.

“They left him for dead on the roadside and drove away with the deceased Lexus jeep.鈥�

The statement added the IGP reaffirms his “commitment to bequeathing to Nigerians, a reformed Police Force that is accountable, responsible and ever ready to defend and uphold the rights of the citizens while discharging its duties of keeping the people safe and secure.”

He urged Nigerians to not allow the misconduct by a few personnel of the Force to negatively impact their belief, confidence and trust in the Police.

Meanwhile, cross-sections of Nigerians have reacted to alleged brutality security personnel inflict on the citizens over time.

Apostle Johnson Suleiman, popular Pentecostal cleric, said that SARS is 鈥渁 disgrace to the Police Force.鈥�

Dr. Joe Abah, public commentator, in his response to social media reports on alleged Police manhandling of Nigerians, stated that he wondered whether the Nigerian Government and Police are 鈥渘ot aware of the nefarious activities of SARS or that they support it?

“I don鈥檛 understand,鈥� said Garba.

On reports of ceaseless Police brutality in the country, Ayo Sogunro, a human rights lawyer, on Saturday said: 鈥淧olice brutality in Nigeria is not arbitrary or accidental.

鈥淚t is part of a systemic method of keeping socially and economically marginalised Nigerians under control.

鈥淭his is why we say #EndSARS will not happen by mere legal reforms. We will need political transformation.鈥�

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